It's not at all common for a starting pitcher to emerge as the most vocal leader on a team, simply because he only takes the mound every fifth day. But Royals players and coaches say that while they have multiple leaders in this bounce-back season, Shields' voice is the most influential in the clubhouse.

"He's made these guys believe that no matter who we're playing, we're playing to win," pitching coach Dave Eiland said. "He doesn't only engage other pitchers. He's influenced everyone. He's brought other guys out of their shells."

Shields got credit with the Rays as the leader of their strong rotation, but the Rays had other strong voices in the clubhouse (Johnny Damon, Cliff Floyd, Eric Hinske in various years). When he came to the Royals, Shields understood that he was the successful veteran in the room.

"I've experienced things in this game that a lot of guys in this clubhouse haven't," said Shields, who went to the playoffs three times and to the World Series once with the Rays.

The Royals remain a longshot to get to the postseason this year, but Shields has brought a sense of toughness to this team that has made them tougher to write off. It's hard to know what the changed culture will mean going forward, but it should be easy to understand that after years and years of losing, it needed changing.

"He's got that aura, that voice," said Billy Butler, a Royal since 2007. "His intensity is motivating. He just does things so loud that the whole darned stadium can hear him."

What has it meant in terms of wins? I'm not sure there's any way to put a number on it.

But if you spend any time around the Royals, it's hard to believe that it doesn't mean something.